Malaysia, Singapore seal RTS agreement

Malaysia, Singapore seal RTS agreement

The Rapid Transit System aims to connect the two countries to ease congestion on the causeway.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong witnessing the holding of documents signifying the agreement for the Rapid Transit System project at the Johor causeway. With them are Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong (front, left) and Singapore Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung (front, right). (Bernama pic)
JOHOR BAHRU:
Malaysia and Singapore today agreed to proceed with the Rapid Transit System (RTS), with the leaders of the two countries meeting at the midpoint of the Johor causeway to signify their agreement.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, accompanied by several ministers, arrived at the border crossing at about 10am.

At the meeting, the two prime ministers witnessed their transport ministers – Wee Ka Siong and Ong Ye Kung – hold up official documents to symbolise their agreement to proceed with the RTS project.

Also present were senior minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is also international trade and industry minister, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad.

Singapore was represented by Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and former transport minister Khaw Boon Wan.

It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Muhyiddin was appointed as the 8th prime minister on March 1.

Lee himself was only recently sworn in for another term as prime minister on July 27, following the victory of the People’s Action Party in Singapore’s recent general election.

The RTS project is expected to cost about RM3.7 billion. The two-phase project is expected to begin in 2021 and be completed by the end of 2026.

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